Fighting a target with cumulative high-power pulses

Abstract

A control device (10) contains an input (34) and / or a memory (36) for known pulse properties (22a-c) of a high-power pulse (8a-e) and assumed input properties (26a-c) and dissipation properties (32a-c) of a target (4), and an output (18), and determines a pulse sequence (6) of the high-power pulses (8a-e) such that, based on the pulse properties (22a-c) and the input properties (26a-c), a cumulative input (38) into the target (4) by the radiated high-power pulses (8a-e) is to be expected, which is greater than the cumulative dissipation (40) in the target expected based on the dissipation properties (32a-c), such that an excess accumulation (42) is established in the target (4), according to which a desired disruption or destruction of the target (4) is to be expected, and generates a the control signal (16) representing the pulse sequence (6) and outputs it at the output (18).An irradiation device (2) contains the control device (10) and a pulse source arrangement (12) that generates the high-power pulses (8a-e) in the form of the pulse sequence (6) represented by the control signal (16) and radiates them toward the target (4). In one method, the control signal is generated with the aid of the control device (10) or the irradiation device (2). In one method, the target is irradiated with the pulse sequence (6) with the aid of the irradiation device (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to combating a target with high-power pulses such as HPM (High Power Microwave) or HPEM (High Power Electromagnetics) pulses.

[0002] From EP 3 641 056 A1, an HPEM source for HPEM pulses in a desired radiation direction is known: This contains at least three antennas for pulse components that are fixed to one another, with at least two groups of antennas each having a main direction, and a control unit for the activation and phasing of the pulse components for superimposing the HPEM pulse, with its current radiation direction being selectable in an angular range around the main direction.

[0003] Targets can be attacked using the well-known HPEM source.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide improvements with regard to combating a target.

[0005] The object is achieved by a control device according to claim 1. Preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention and other categories of invention emerge from the further claims, the following description and the attached figures.

[0006] The control device serves or is configured to generate and provide or output a control signal. The control signal serves or is configured to control a pulse source arrangement. The pulse source arrangement serves or is configured to generate and emit a pulse sequence of high-power pulses. The emission of the pulse sequence from the pulse source arrangement serves to irradiate a potentially present target. The corresponding irradiation of the target is intended to combat the target.

[0007] The invention is based on the following assumptions and prerequisites: The pulse source arrangement contains at least one, in particular a plurality of pulse sources. The pulse source arrangement is set up to generate the pulse train based on the control signal. The control signal therefore determines which of the pulse sources of the pulse source arrangement emits high-power pulses when and, if applicable, also which ones (type, shape, power, etc.). The sum of all high-power pulses emitted in accordance with the control signal forms the pulse train. The pulse sources are controlled in accordance with the control signal, i.e. either directly by the control signal or by signals derived from it. Each of the pulse sources is set up to generate respective high-power pulses or serves to do so. A pulse source or different pulse sources can in particular emit different high-power pulses, i.e. pulses of different types. The pulse sources can, for example, be designed according to different types, power levels and technologies.For example, pulse sources in the form of HPM, HPEM, NB (narrow band), WB (wide band) and / or UWB (ultra wide band) sources can be present within a pulse source arrangement. This means, for example, that different high-power pulses such as HPM and / or HPEM pulses of different bandwidths (NB, WB, UWB) can be present in a pulse train. Each of the high-power pulses has known pulse properties according to an assumption for or in the control device. These pulse properties are assumed. The pulse properties relate to, for example, pulse type, pulse duration, energy content, waveform properties such as edge steepness, etc. In particular, the pulse properties can be uniformly known, for example, for the aforementioned pulse types or pulse sources. The pulse properties represent assumptions about the pulses and therefore apply primarily to pulses to be generated in the future. The pulse train of the high-power pulses is therefore determined by the control signal orto be determined. The control signal therefore determines which pulses of which type, in which strength and at what time are to be generated by which of the pulse sources and transmitted towards the target. The pulse sequence therefore determines the entire group or totality of pulses which is to be generated by a corresponding control signal. In other words, the control signal determines the pulse sequence or contains a specification as to how the sequence is to be generated by the pulse source arrangement. The pulse sequence therefore serves or is set up to irradiate the or a potentially existing target with the high-power pulses. The irradiation of the target leads to an input of power / energy from each of the pulses into the target, for example into its electronic components, etc. This leads, for example, to an increase in temperature there or to a current / voltage pulse in a conductor or component, etc. Each of the high-power pulses which are potentially to be irradiated into the target orradiated, therefore makes a presumably expected input (of energy / power / temperature / ...) into the target. For this purpose, an input property of the target is assumed. This describes which effects the radiated pulse (which has the assumed pulse properties) is expected or presumably to cause in the target. Each of these inputs (of energy / temperature / current / etc.) into the target is assigned a presumably expected dissipation in the target. This is described by an assumed dissipation property in the target. In other words, the input is absorbed in the target, then distributed within it, so that its effect decays / is distributed etc. according to the dissipation properties. This is also an assumption that is made about the target.

[0008] The control device contains an input and / or a memory for the known or assumed pulse properties and the assumed or assumed input properties and dissipation properties of the target. Thus, the corresponding quantities are present / provided in the control device.

[0009] The control device contains an output for the control signal, i.e. for providing / outputting the control signal.

[0010] The control device is designed or serves to determine the pulse sequence of the high-power pulses as follows: First, based on the input properties (for a selected pulse sequence), a cumulative input (energy / power / temperature / etc.) into the target by the radiated high-power pulses is determined, which - based on the assumptions of the pulse properties about the radiated pulses and the input properties of the target (how it reacts to the respective input) - is presumably to be expected with the (underlying) pulse sequence.

[0011] Based on the dissipation properties, the extent to which the corresponding inputs or the cumulative input in the target are / is subject to dissipation is determined. In other words, the cumulative dissipation of the high-power pulses radiated using the pulse sequence is also determined. This may result in, or should result in, an excess accumulation of inputs that cannot be absorbed / dissipated by dissipation. In other words, dissipation results in a "discharge" from the target; the excess remains in the target as the difference between the input into the target and the discharge from the target.

[0012] The pulse sequence is now selected in such a way (e.g., its effect on the target is tested iteratively as explained above and the pulse sequence is adjusted / optimized if necessary) that a desired disruption or destruction of the target can be expected through the irradiation of the pulse sequence. This is achieved by the dissipation not being sufficient to allow all inputs to decay sufficiently quickly, but by a temporal superposition or additive summation or build-up of the cumulative inputs in the form of excess cumulation despite the cumulative dissipation. In other words, the sum of all inputs in the pulse sequence less the sum of all dissipations occurring results in an excess cumulation of introduced energy / temperature / power / ... which, in view of the properties of the target, which are also assumed to be known, allows a desired disruption or destruction effect to be expected in the target.In other words, the pulse sequence is selected with regard to the assumed target, using a suitable combination of high-power pulses, in such a way that a cumulatively increasing superposition of energy / temperature / other inputs results, which disrupts or destroys the target sustainably or for the intended purpose.

[0013] The control device is further configured to generate the control signal thus determined and output / provide it at the output, which represents the determined pulse sequence. When the control device is operated and a corresponding pulse source arrangement is controlled and the generated pulse sequence is transmitted to the target based on the control signal, it can be assumed that the target will be disrupted or destroyed as expected.

[0014] Appropriate assumptions about the target and / or the pulse sources / pulses can be determined, for example, through empirical experiments, theoretical considerations, etc. For example, exponentially decaying dissipation (1 / e curve) can be assumed. Furthermore, the use of standard electronic and electrical components, cables, etc. can be assumed. Effects / effects (input / dissipation) triggered by the irradiation of a pulse sequence in corresponding components can be determined in a sufficiently general and standard manner, for example, through EMC tests, etc.

[0015] The invention is based on the observation that, in practice, HPEM-DS (damped sinusoidal) broadband systems currently operate with pulse repetition rates in the range of a few tens to a few hundred Hz. The energy in a single HPEM pulse is often insufficient to achieve the required range. Due to the low pulse repetition rate and the associated very long time intervals between consecutive pulses, compared to a pulse duration of a few nanoseconds, the energy dissipation at the target is too high to cause cumulative effects.

[0016] HPEM UWB source systems, on the other hand, can currently be operated with high pulse repetition rates up to the high kilohertz range. UWB pulses typically have pulse widths in the range of a few tens to 100 ps. This means that the energy content of the pulse is relatively low, despite extremely high achievable power levels in the gigawatt range. Furthermore, the power coupled into the target system (target) or the target electronics, or rather the energy in the relevant sensitive spectral range, is very low due to the very high bandwidth (compared to the peak power of a UWB pulse).In this case too, the coupled, effective energy / power is not sufficient, despite the higher pulse repetition rate of the UWB system, due to the energy dissipation in the target electronics to cause a cumulative effect of the power or energy coupled into the electronics in such a way that the target electronics / components / systems are temporarily and / or permanently impaired in their function, disrupted or even destroyed.

[0017] Targets include, in particular, electronic target systems and electronics, such as UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), IEDs (improvised explosive devices), missiles, military weapons and reconnaissance systems, communications and command facilities and structures, as well as high-value military and civilian targets and infrastructures.

[0018] The basic idea of ​​the invention is to increase the energy and power coupling of high-power pulses, in particular HPEM, into such targets with the intention of temporarily and / or permanently disrupting their function and / or destroying the target electronics and thus causing a failure of the target system.

[0019] In the following, the invention is explained in particular using "HPEM" as a representative of all suitable high-power pulses.

[0020] The invention also aims to increase the effective range and efficiency of HPEM systems, coordinating the effects of distributed HPEM systems to increase the effective efficiency and effective range at the target. One example is the defense and protection of one's own systems and facilities in a swarm attack scenario.

[0021] In other words, according to the invention, assumptions are made, for example, about transistors or integrated circuits (chips) in a potential target. The input into the target then occurs "fast enough" to overcompensate for the dissipation effects assumed there. The invention is therefore based in particular on the idea of ​​using short pulses, i.e., with a fast rise time. This results in almost no spread of (especially thermal) energy within the target; instead, local heating occurs, resulting in disruption or destruction of the target. The prerequisite here is that the next pulse arrives "fast enough" (i.e., the time between the rising edges of the pulses is short enough) to prevent the local heating from decaying, but rather to increase it cumulatively per pulse.

[0022] According to the invention, a method or system (particularly HPEM) is thus obtained in which the effect of the high-power pulses on the temporal energy / temperature / power dissipation and / or the behavior / decay of latency effects are temporally coordinated. The temporal superposition and accumulation of the coupled power or energy in the target electronics is used to accumulate energy accordingly. This allows the interference / destruction threshold of the electronic components and parts to be exceeded, causing the failure and destruction of the electronics or the system. Latency effects include, in particular, charge carrier injection into interfaces, pn junctions, depletion layers, and changes, weakening, or strengthening of electric fields.

[0023] The invention thus provides a method and system for increasing, amplifying, and optimizing the power and energy coupling of high-power pulses into electronic systems. This results in a temporal coordination and combination of the radiated and / or coupled high-power pulses, current pulses, voltage pulses, individual pulses, pulse repetition rates, and / or pulse sequences with the expected energy / temperature dissipation in the exposed electronics, electronic components, electronic parts, cables, and conductor tracks. This enables the local cumulative additive superposition and build-up of the energy inputs and the temperature. These are caused by the respective individual pulses / pulse sequences and pulse repetition rates. Given a sufficient number of local pulses and energy inputs, this leads to lasting disruption and / or destruction of the electronic parts and components.The entries must be faster than the local energy / temperature dissipation in the respective component / electronics / pn junction etc.

[0024] The method can be used for both conducted and radiated applications. The method enables a significant increase in the effective efficiency of high-power pulses / systems and their effective range. The method can be adapted to the requirements of different target electronics designs and thus to varying energy / temperature dissipation rates resulting from different system designs. Adaptation is achieved by (changing) the timing and synchronization of individual or multiple pulses, current pulses, voltage pulses, the number, length, pulse amplitude, pulse repetition rate, pulse sequence, and length.

[0025] In addition, latency effects in electronic components can be cleverly exploited through the very rapid (HPEM pulses) repeated, temporally coordinated introduction of voltage / current / field / energy and temperature into the components, junctions, etc. This is done because these lead to a brief, temporary weakening of the switching properties / increase in internal resistance, etc., for example, through brief heating or charge carrier injection in pn junctions, and thus to a temporary weakening and change in the characteristic properties of the component, the components, or the electronics. Component properties are changed, for example, in pn junctions, interfaces, junctions, field distributions, charge carrier mobility, temperature behavior, changes in charge carrier mobility, and the field distribution in electronic components.Due to very rapid, temporally coordinated cumulative energy and / or temperature input / increase and repetition or cumulative amplification of these effects, which are coordinated with the energy dissipation in the electronics / component, these ultimately lead to a temporary and / or lasting disruption and / or destruction of the corresponding parts, components, and systems.

[0026] To realize the fast, time-coordinated pulse train and / or pulse sequences, for example in the nanosecond / picosecond range to achieve the desired cumulative effects, very precise temporal synchronization and coordination of the individual pulses, the pulse sequence, pulse sequence and / or their superpositions with regard to the expected temporal course of the energy / temperature dissipation and / or the latency effects on the circuit / component and / or doping level of the target electronics or the electronic components and parts of the target electronics is required.

[0027] Such a process can be implemented with all HPM, HPEM, UWB, WB, and NB (HPEM) source systems. A key factor is the very precise, synchronous, and precise timing of the individual pulses, pulse trains, pulse sequences, and pulse train sequences arriving at or acting on the electronics, tailored to the expected energy / temperature dissipation and / or the temporal progression of latency effects in the target electronics / component. Furthermore, the optimization of the pulse shape, amplitude, rise time, duration, energy, and frequency content can have a positive impact on this desired effect.

[0028] The effective range is increased by subjecting the target to pulses, pulse sequences and pulse sequences that are tailored to the temporal energy and temperature sensitivity as well as the sensitivity of the target electronics with regard to temporal latency effects.

[0029] According to the invention, the following advantages arise: The required total energy and power is distributed over several individual and / or combined and / or identical and / or different (HPEM) technologies (NB, WB, UWB, etc.), sources, components and systems.

[0030] Furthermore, the generation and provision of HPEM / high voltage / high current / electromagnetic / high energy high power pulses (amplitude, duration, pulse repetition rate, energy, power), pulse trains, pulse sequence and pulse train sequences, pulse repetition rates, which are time-coordinated and / or synchronized with the energy / temperature dissipation / latency effects.

[0031] This results in the generation of temporary energy / temperature and latency behavior / effects in the target electronics, electronic parts, components and systems in such a way that these temporarily, sustainably or permanently cause a malfunction or failure and / or destruction of the target electronics and systems.

[0032] This results in a tuning of the pulses (amplitude, duration, pulse repetition rate, energy, power), pulse trains, pulse sequence, and pulse train sequences to the specific properties of the temperature and energy dissipation function and latent effects in the target electronics, components, parts, and systems in order to cause a (local) additive energy / temperature effect / energy / temperature increase until the component's interference / damage threshold is exceeded. The method / device can be used for both conducted and radiated applications. With sufficiently low delay times, statistical effects such as jitter can also be utilized to generate the desired effects.

[0033] The invention is particularly applicable to 1.) HPEM systems, stationary or on mobile platforms for various applications (e.g., counter-UAS for vehicle protection, counter-UAS for field protection, C-IED, etc.). 2.) Mobile HPEM systems for land applications, integrated on a vehicle for self-protection within the framework of NNbS (short-range and very close-range protection) and MGCS (Main Ground Combat System) for various applications (e.g., counter-UAS, C-IED, convoy protection, etc.). 3.) Mobile HPEM systems for air and naval applications, integrated on an aircraft, drone, or ship for self-protection within the framework of NNbS for various applications (e.g., counter-UAS, C-IED, boot stop, etc.). 4.) Distributed HPEM systems with swarm capability for coordinated action for protection or attack. Integration on mobile and / or airborne platforms (e.g., FCAS, RC, LW, UAV, UAS, mini-UAS, etc.).

[0034] An application therefore arises for (HPEM) effective systems for self-protection in the area of ​​NNbS, field camp protection, MGCS for the short range and FCAS for self-protection, for example counter-UAS, C-IED, convoy protection, protection of field camps, boot stop, protection of ships, aircraft, drones, etc. Use for attacks with drone swarms against military weapons and reconnaissance systems, communication and command facilities and structures as well as military and civilian high-value targets and infrastructures.

[0035] The basic principle of the invention is a method for HPEM power coupling and range increase.

[0036] (HPEM) pulses are capable of injecting high levels of energy and power into cables, electronics, electronic components, and systems. High-power pulses induce high voltage and current pulses in target electronics. Due to the very short pulses, the injected power, voltage, and energy, and the resulting local energy injection, voltage increase, and / or heating, as well as temporary latency effects (e.g., charge carrier injection, field enhancement, or weakening in the semiconductor structure, pn junctions, or zones), are not strong enough to temporarily and / or permanently disrupt and / or destroy the electronic system, component, or component.

[0037] Cables, circuit boards and electronic systems have a certain, defined energy dissipation which depends strongly on the type of components and the layout / structure (circuit boards, multi-layer, heat sinks, energy sinks, power thicknesses / widths / materials etc.).

[0038] By coordinating the temporal sequence and number and / or shape of the HPEM pulses with the local decay behavior of the temperature / energy / energy dissipation / healing of latency effects, the energy is supplied faster by the coordinated temporal sequence of the HPEM pulses than the local decay of the temperature / energy / latency effects by the specific energy dissipation function.

[0039] Due to the temporal synchronization / sequence of the energy / voltage / current / field coupling / latency events on the local decay / behavior of the energy / temperature and / or latent effects (latencies), there is an additive local build-up of the energy and / or temperature and / or latency effects, which, if a disturbance or destruction threshold is exceeded, leads to a temporary and / or lasting and / or complete failure up to the destruction of the electronics and their functionality.

[0040] A local buildup of the deposited energy / temperature from latency effects occurs due to energy inputs from HPEM pulses timed to the decay behavior (dissipation function) until temporary / permanent disruption and / or destruction of the electronics occurs. Influencing parameters and variables include (but are not limited to) the time interval between two pulses, for example, a current / temperature curve induced by the pulses in the target electronics, the maximum amplitude of the induced current / temperature, the current rise and fall time dl / dt, and the temperature rise and fall time (dT / dt).

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control device is configured to determine the pulse sequence or the control rule according to at least one tuning rule for the high-power pulses. The tuning rule is, in particular, a temporal (time sequence of the pulses / durations, etc.) or power (pulse power) rule and can also contain or be a combination rule (how which pulses are to be combined with one another). In other words, within the pulse sequence, the pulses, in particular, are coordinated with one another in terms of time and type in order to achieve the aforementioned cumulative effects and overcome dissipation.

[0042] The preferred embodiments (including the following) have already been explained above together with their advantages.

[0043] According to a preferred variant of this embodiment, at least one of the tuning rules includes the specification of a pulse repetition rate and / or a pulse count and / or a pulse length and / or a maximum time interval between two of the high-power pulses. For short time intervals, which can be achieved, the jitter of multiple sources can also be utilized, as explained above: For example, three sources are triggered simultaneously via a trigger signal. Due to a known jitter phenomenon in the trigger signal, the three pulses can be transmitted distributed over the jitter period, leading to the desired accumulation.

[0044] According to a preferred embodiment, at least one of the tuning rules includes the specification of a pulse shape and / or a pulse sequence of high-power pulses. "Pulse sequence" is, in particular, a sequence and / or a combination of pulses, in particular the temporal sequence of the pulses.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the dissipation properties includes a presumed property about the behavior of current and / or voltage pulses induced by high power pulses in the target.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the dissipation properties contains a property about the expected behavior and / or the decay of latency effects in the target.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the dissipation properties relates to a presumed electronic component (also referred to as "electronics") of the target. This is, in particular, an electronic component, a line, a conductor track, a transistor, an integrated circuit (chip), and in particular their respective interference or damage thresholds. In particular, the local accumulation of power / energy and temperature is described there.

[0048] The object of the invention is also achieved by an irradiation device according to patent claim 8. This serves or is configured to irradiate the above-mentioned target with the aforementioned pulse sequence of high-power pulses. The irradiation device contains the aforementioned control device. The irradiation device also contains the aforementioned pulse source arrangement, which contains the at least one pulse source and is controlled by the control signal output by the control device at the output. The pulse source arrangement is configured to generate the high-power pulses in the form of the pulse sequence represented by the control signal and to radiate them towards the target (potentially, if present). This is a potential target, if present.

[0049] The irradiation device and at least some of its possible embodiments as well as the respective advantages have already been explained in connection with the control device according to the invention.

[0050] According to a preferred embodiment, at least one of the pulse sources is an HPM or HPEM source and / or a source in the form of an NB, WB or UWB source.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, the pulse source arrangement contains at least two different pulse sources. This allows high-power pulses to be emitted from each of the pulse sources simultaneously or with a time delay.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the pulse source arrangement contains at least two pulse sources in the form of a distributed source system. The two sources are, in particular, distributed across different platforms; each of the platforms can be stationary (e.g., a warehouse) or mobile (e.g., a vehicle, a drone). In particular, they form a swarm, for example, a swarm of drones, each equipped with a respective pulse source.

[0053] However, in an alternative embodiment, it may also be a concentrated system, for example on a vehicle or a building, where all pulse sources are installed on the system in question.

[0054] The object of the invention is also achieved by a method according to claim 12. The method is based on the prerequisites explained above. In particular, the pulse source arrangement with the pulse sources capable of generating the high-power pulses as specified by the control signal, and the assumptions regarding the pulse, input, and dissipation properties.

[0055] The method and at least some of its possible embodiments as well as the respective advantages have already been explained in connection with the control and irradiation device according to the invention.

[0056] The object of the invention is also achieved by a method according to claim 13 for irradiating the above-described target with the pulse sequence of high-power pulses. The above-described method for generating and providing or outputting the control signal is executed, and the pulse source arrangement is controlled by the control signal as explained above in order to radiate the high-power pulses toward the target.

[0057] The method and at least some of its possible embodiments as well as the respective advantages have already been explained in connection with the method according to the invention for generating the control signal and the control and irradiation device according to the invention.

[0058] Further features, effects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying figures. Each of these figures shows a schematic diagram: Figure 1 shows an irradiation arrangement when irradiating a target, Figure 2 shows the emission of successive high-power pulses without excess accumulation, Figure 3 shows successive high-power pulses with excess accumulation to disrupt the target, Figure 4 shows successive high-power pulses with excess accumulation to destroy the target.

[0059] Figure 1shows an irradiation device 2. This is used to irradiate a target 4 with a pulse sequence 6 of, in this case, three high-power pulses 8a-c. This serves as an example. In practice, there are tens or hundreds of high-power pulses. The irradiation device 2 contains a control device 10 and a pulse source arrangement 12. In the example, the pulse source arrangement 12 contains (also as an example) three pulse sources 14a-c. The pulse source arrangement 12 is controlled by a control signal 16, which is generated by the control device 10 and output or provided at an output 18 of the control device 10. The pulse source arrangement 12 generates the high-power pulses 8a-c in the form of the pulse sequence 6. The pulse sequence 6 is represented, defined or determined by the control signal 16.The pulse source arrangement 12 radiates the high-power pulses 8a-c in the form of the pulse sequence 6 towards the target 4, thus irradiating the target 4 with the pulse sequence 6.

[0060] Pulse source 14a is an HPEM-UWB source. Pulse source 14b is an HPM source, and pulse source 14c is an HPEM-NB source. High-power pulses 8a and 8c are therefore electromagnetic HPEM pulses with UWB and NB characteristics. High-power pulse 8b is a high-power microwave pulse. Pulse source arrangement 12 thus contains three different pulse sources 14a-c. Pulse sources 14a-c are configured as a distributed source system 20, i.e., each pulse source 14a-c is individually mounted on a respective drone (not shown in the figure). The drones act as a swarm to coordinately engage target 4.

[0061] According to the pulse sequence 6, the high-power pulses 8a-c are emitted in temporal sequence one after the other at the times t1, t2 and t3 and arrive at the target 4 with the respective time interval T.

[0062] The control device 10 serves to generate the control signal 16 in order to control the pulse source arrangement 12 to generate the pulse sequence 6, as explained above, whereby the pulse source arrangement 12 can or does irradiate the target 4 with the pulse sequence 6. The pulse source arrangement 12 thus generates the pulse sequence 6 based on the control signal 16. The pulse sources 14a-c serve to generate the high-power pulses 8a-c.

[0063] In the control device 10, a respective pulse characteristic 22a-c of each of the high-power pulses 8a-c is known in advance or is assumed / assumed accordingly. In the example, this is related to the respective pulse type (HPEM-UWB / - NB, HPM). The pulse characteristic 22a-c therefore does not characterize each individual pulse, but rather the general pulse characteristic of the high-power pulses 8a-c, which are always generated in the same way. The pulse sequence 6 is specified or determined by the control signal 16.

[0064] The control device 10 now assumes or makes the assumption that each of the high-power pulses 8a-c radiated into the target causes a presumably expected input 24a-c in the form of a power or energy coupling in the target 4, which is described by a corresponding input property 26a-c. In other words, energy or power is introduced into the target 4, for example, an electronic component 28 thereof, by each of the high-power pulses 8a-c, which depends on their respective pulse property 22a-c and the respective input property 26a-c of the target 4. The corresponding input property 26a-c is assumed in the control device 10, thus representing an assumption (which is generally not precisely known) within the control device 10.

[0065] The control device 10 further assumes that a corresponding entry 24a-c in the target 4 is underlain or subjected to a presumably expected dissipation 30a-c, which is characterized by corresponding dissipation properties 32a-c of the target 4. In other words, a high-power pulse 8a-c introduces power / temperature / energy potentially harmful to the target 4 into the target 4 as entry 24a-c, which, however, is subjected to a dissipation 30a-c (counteracting the harmful effect) in the target 4.

[0066] These described (partial) assumptions (pulse, input and dissipation properties) are to be used as (summarizing) assumption A for the control device 10 in the Figure 1 symbolically indicated. This assumption A therefore exists in the control device 10 or is used by it. The corresponding conditions at the destination 4 are therefore in Figure 1 shown again symbolically under the control device 10.

[0067] The control device 10 therefore contains an input 34 and a memory 36, via which the assumption A is input into the control device 10, namely in the form of the pulse properties 22a-c, input properties 26a-c, and dissipation properties 32a-c. The control device 10 thus has the corresponding assumptions A. These are now used in the control device 10 as follows: The control device 10 iteratively / successively / according to specifications, etc. (standard practice, not explained in detail here) determines the pulse sequence 6 of the high-power pulses 8a-c in such a way that, with knowledge of the pulse properties 22a-c and based on the input properties 26a-c, a presumed cumulative input 38 into the target 4 can be assumed. The control device takes into account the respective dissipation 30a-c presumably associated with the entries 24a-c, which adds up to a cumulative dissipation 40, which is thus also accepted.The pulse sequence 6 is now designed / adapted, determined, optimized in such a way that the cumulative input 38 exceeds the cumulative dissipation 40, resulting in an excess accumulation 42 of input energy / power / temperature / current / voltage etc. in the target 4, which allows a desired disturbance or destruction of the target 4 to be expected or suspected.

[0068] In particular, the determination of the pulse sequence 6 is interactively adjusted, e.g., by varying the number / type / sequence / time interval, etc., of the individual pulses, until the desired excess accumulation 42 is achieved. In other words, suitable high-power pulses 8a-c are searched for in a suitable temporal sequence and combination such that the resulting entries 24a-c cannot be removed from the target 4 "fast enough" by the corresponding dissipations 30a-c to prevent the excess accumulation 42.

[0069] As soon as the pulse sequence 6 has been determined, the control device 10 outputs the control signal 16, which represents the corresponding pulse sequence 6, so that the pulse source arrangement 12 is informed by means of the control signal 16 to generate precisely that pulse sequence 6 according to the relevant regulation in the control signal 16 and to transmit it towards the target 4.

[0070] Figure 2 shows symbolically, over time t, assumptions A regarding the irradiation of the individual high-power pulses 8a-c into the target 4 after an attempted pulse sequence 6. Shown are a respective current profile 44 and a temperature profile 46, which is assumed in the electronic component 28 of the target 4. Time intervals Ta and Tb between the high-power pulses 8a-c are assumed. This results in assumed peak values ​​of the current amplitude SI and the temperature amplitude ST for current profile 44 and temperature profile 46, as well as corresponding rise and fall times dl / dt and dT / dt. Figure 2 It can be seen that no cumulative effects can be achieved here. Each of the entries 24a-c is compensated by a corresponding dissipation 30a-c.

[0071] The pulse sequence 6 is therefore adjusted by the control device 10.

[0072] Figure 3shows a pulse sequence 6 adapted in this way, in which, under the same assumptions A, a temporally denser pulse sequence 6, i.e., with shorter time intervals T, is considered. In addition, a fourth pulse 8d is appended here. Here, the dissipation 30a-d is not sufficient to completely compensate for the entries 24a-d; an excess accumulation 42, indicated here by a dashed line, remains in the target 4 or the electronic component 28, which increases over time and ultimately leads to a disturbance, since the temperature profile 46 at time t4 exceeds a disturbance threshold SS of the target 4. In the actual application of this pulse sequence 6 to the target 4, it is therefore to be expected that the excess accumulation 42 assumed by the control unit 10 actually occurs in the target 4 and therefore actually disturbs the target 4 (in Figure 1 therefore the surplus accumulation 42 is indicated again in Objective 4).

[0073] However, the desired goal is to destroy target 4. Therefore, the pulse sequence 6 in the control device 10 is further optimized.

[0074] Figure 4 Finally, another pulse sequence 6 shows alternative high-power pulses 8a-e (high-power pulses 8d,e are HPEM-WB pulses from another, not shown pulse source in the pulse source arrangement 12) arranged even more closely together in time (smaller spacing T). The temperature profile 46 accumulates even more strongly here and reaches a damage threshold SZ in target 4 at time t5, as desired.

[0075] The corresponding combination of the high-power pulses 8a-e in the pulse sequences 6 is carried out using a tuning rule or combination rule 50, which is Figure 1 is symbolically indicated and in the Figures 2 to 4as a corresponding sequence of suitable high-power pulses 8a-e. This tuning rule 50 is, as explained above, determined iteratively in the control device 10 and contains the specification of a pulse repetition rate (time intervals T) and a pulse number (3 to 5 according to the Figures 2 to 4 ) a pulse length etc. here a maximum time interval T ( Figure 4 ) between two of the high-power pulses 8a-e, etc.

[0076] In the iterative process, a pulse shape (not shown) or a pulse sequence of the high-power pulses 8a-e can also be varied accordingly (pulse shape, for example, by different control of the pulse sources 14a-c, pulse sequence by different order of control of the different pulse sources 14a-c (mixture of electromagnetic, microwave, NB, WB or UWB pulses / source in different order).

[0077] The current waveform 44 thus represents a (current) pulse 52 (here also representing a voltage pulse) caused by the high-power pulse 8a-e in the target 4. The dissipation properties 32a-e can therefore also be regarded as assumed properties of the behavior of the pulses 52. In particular, latency effects 54 and their behavior / decay in the target 4 are therefore also included or taken into account in the dissipation properties 32a-e.

[0078] In summary, the following method is carried out: To generate the control signal 10, it is assumed on the basis of assumptions A that the high-power pulses 8a-e cause assumed entries 24a-e in the target 4 based on their entry properties 26a-e, that these are subject to a respective dissipation 30a-e according to the dissipation properties 32a-e, the pulse properties 22a-e, entry properties 26a-e and dissipation properties 32a-e are provided to the control device 10, and the control device 10 determines the pulse sequence 6 iteratively based on these assumptions A as explained above such that the cumulative entry 38 exceeds the cumulative dissipation 40 and an excess accumulation 42 takes place, which suggests a disruption or destruction of the target 4.

[0079] In the method for irradiating the target 4, the above method is carried out and the pulse source arrangement 12 is controlled with the determined control signal 16, whereupon it radiates the high-power pulses 8a-e according to the control signal 16 as a pulse sequence 6 towards the target 4, which is expected to destroy the target 4. List of reference symbols

[0080] 2 Irradiation device 4 Target 6 Pulse sequence 8 a-e High-power pulse 10 Control device 12 Pulse source arrangement 14 a-c Pulse source 16 Control signal 18 Output 20 Source system (distributed) 22 a-e Pulse property 24 a-e Entry 26 a-e Entry property 28 Electronic component 30 a-e Dissipation 32 a-e Dissipation property 34 Input 36 Memory 38 Entry (cumulative) 40 Dissipation (cumulative) 42 Excess accumulation 44 Current profile 46 Temperature profile 50 Tuning rule 52 Pulse 54 Latency effect t1-5 Time point T, Ta, b Distance (temporal) Assumptions SI Current amplitude STTemperature amplitude SS Interference threshold SZZ Interference threshold

Claims

1. Control device (10) for generating a control signal (16) for controlling a pulse source arrangement (12) for generating a pulse sequence (6) of high-power pulses (8a-e) for irradiating a target (4), - wherein the pulse source arrangement (12) contains at least one pulse source (14a-c) and is configured to generate the pulse sequence (6) based on the control signal (16), - wherein each of the pulse sources (14a-c) is configured to generate the high-power pulses (8a-e), - wherein each of the high-power pulses (8a-e) has known pulse properties (22a-c), - wherein the pulse sequence (6) of the high-power pulses (8a-e) is determined by the control signal (16), - wherein a respective one of the high-power pulses (8a-e) potentially radiated into the target (4) with its pulse properties (22a-c) in said one presumably expected entry (24a-c) based on an assumed entry property (26a-c) of the target (4),- wherein each of the entries (24a-c) in the target (4) is assigned a presumably expected dissipation (30a-c) based on an assumed dissipation property (32a-c) of the target (4), - with an input (34) and / or a memory (36) for the known pulse properties (22a-c) and the assumed entry properties (26a-c) and the assumed dissipation properties (32a-c), - with an output (18) for the control signal (16), - wherein the control device (10) is configured to determine the pulse sequence (6) of the high-power pulses (8a-e) in such a way that, based on the pulse properties (22a-c) and the entry properties (26a-c), a cumulative entry (38) into the target (4) by the radiated high-power pulses (8a-e) is to be expected, which is greater than the Dissipation properties (32a-c) expected cumulative dissipation (40) in the target, that an excess cumulation (42) occurs in the target (4),according to which a desired disturbance or destruction of the target (4) is to be expected, - wherein the control device (10) is arranged to generate the control signal (16) representing the determined pulse sequence (6) and to output it at the output (18)., 2. Control device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that the control device (10) is configured to determine the pulse sequence (6) according to at least one tuning rule (50) for the high-power pulses (8a-e).

3. Control device (10) according to claim 2, characterized by that at least one of the tuning rules (50) includes the specification of a pulse repetition rate and / or a pulse number and / or a pulse length and / or a maximum time interval (T) between two of the high-power pulses (8a-e).

4. Control device (10) according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized by thatat least one of the tuning rules (50) includes the specification of a pulse shape and / or a pulse sequence of high-power pulses.

5. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one of the dissipation properties (32a-c) contains an assumed property about the behavior of current and / or voltage pulses (52) caused by the high-power pulses (8a-e) in the target (4).

6. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one of the dissipation properties (32a-e) contains a property about the assumed behavior and / or the decay of latency effects (54) in the target (4).

7. Control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one of the dissipation properties (32a-e) relates to an assumed electronic component (28) of the target (4).

8. Irradiation device (2) for irradiating a target (4) with a pulse sequence (6) of high-power pulses (8a-e), - with the control device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, - with the pulse source arrangement (12) which contains the at least one pulse source (14a-c) and which is controlled by the control signal (16) output by the control device (10) at the output (18), - wherein the pulse source arrangement (12) is designed to generate the high-power pulses (8a-e) in the form of the pulse sequence (6) represented by the control signal (16) and to radiate them towards the target (4).

9. Irradiation device (2) according to claim 8, characterized by that at least one of the pulse sources (14a-c) is an HPM or HPEM source in the form of an NB or WB or UWB source.

10. Irradiation device (2) according to one of claims 8 to 9, characterized by thatthe pulse source arrangement (12) contains at least two different pulse sources (14a-c).

11. Irradiation device (2) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized by that the pulse source arrangement (12) contains at least two pulse sources (14a-c) in the form of a distributed source system (20).

12. A method for generating a control signal (16) for controlling a pulse source arrangement (12) for generating a pulse sequence (6) of high-power pulses (8a-e) for irradiating a target (4), with the aid of the control device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7 or with the aid of the irradiation device (2) according to one of claims 8 to 11, in which - the pulse source arrangement (12) contains at least one pulse source (14a-c) and can generate the pulse sequence (6) based on the control signal (16), - each of the pulse sources (14a-c) can generate the high-power pulses (8a-e), - each of the high-power pulses (8a-e) having known pulse properties (22a-c), - the pulse sequence (6) of the high-power pulses (8a-e) being determined by the control signal (16),- wherein each of the high-power pulses (8a-e) potentially radiated into the target (4) with its pulse properties (22a-c) causes a presumably expected entry (24a-c) in the target based on an assumed entry property (26a-c) of the target (4), - wherein each of the entries (24a-c) in the target (4) is assigned a presumably expected dissipation (30a-c) based on an assumed dissipation property (32a-c) of the target (4), - the known pulse properties (22a-c) and the assumed entry properties (26a-c) and the assumed dissipation properties (32a-c) are provided at the input (34) and / or the memory (36), - the control device (10) determines the pulse sequence (6) of the high-power pulses (8a-e) such that based on the pulse properties (22a-c) and the entry properties (26a-c) a cumulative entry (38) into the target (4) by the radiated high-power pulses (8a-e) is to be expected,which is greater than the cumulative dissipation (40) in the target to be expected based on the dissipation properties (32a-c) such that an excess accumulation (42) occurs in the target (4), according to which a desired disruption or destruction of the target (4) is to be expected, - the control device (10) generates the control signal (16) representing the determined pulse sequence (6) and outputs it at the output (18).

13. A method for irradiating a target (4) with a pulse sequence (6) of high-power pulses (8a-e) using the irradiation device (2) according to one of claims 8 to 11, in which - the method according to claim 12 is carried out, - the pulse source arrangement (12) containing the at least one pulse source (14a-c) is controlled by the control signal (16) output by the control device (10) at the output (18), - the pulse source arrangement (12) generates the high-power pulses (8a-e) in the form of the pulse sequence (6) represented by the control signal (16) and radiates them towards the target (4).

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